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BILAT-USA and Link2US support EURO-BASIN in its efforts to promote transatlantic collaboration in Ocean Sciences

Sep 22, 2011

The FP7 EURO-BASIN integrated project is the European branch of the International BASIN Project, an initiative to develop a joint EU and North American research program in the field of ocean ecosystems in support of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) initiative. On 14 September 2011 EURO-BASIN had invited BILAT-USA/Link2US to Brussels to its Meeting on Fostering Transatlantic Collaboration in Ocean Sciences.
U.S. representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) met with representatives from different Directorates of the European Commission.Chaired by the Danish Technical University Division for Aquatic Resources, the Coordinator of EURO-BASIN, the meeting aimed at providing the grounds for further discussion of a strategy to foster and manage linked international projects in the field of ocean ecosystems under a coordinated collaboration between researchers and funding agencies from both sides of the Atlantic.
The different approaches in funding research and innovation became more than clear. Whereas the U.S. side, following a grant focused system, flexible to react to hazardous events, is able to put out a Call within days (David Conover, NSF), the European side is anticipating global challenges already years before and is therefore more rigid,  focusing on contracts and its fulfilments. Both systems do have their pros and cons and are difficult to combine, but where there is a will there is a way (Michael St. John, Danish Technology University).
Indeed, both sides did express high interest in transatlantic collaboration through providing mutual mechanisms and joining forces, especially with respect to the upcoming Horizon 2020.
In a follow-up meeting next year the European Commission and European national funding agencies shall meet NSF, NOAA and potentially NASA for more concrete actions.


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BILAT-USA (Grant Agreement no: 244434) and Link2US (Grant Agreement no: 244371) Projects are co-funded by the European Union’s Capacities Programme on International Cooperation under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Cooperation.